Radiation survey process

Abstract

A method for determining a radionuclide concentration of a material is provided. The method comprises placing a detector in a protective structure, wherein the detector is coupled to a single-channel analyzer. The method further comprises inserting the protective structure in a material, wherein the material comprises a radionuclide. The method additionally comprises measuring the moisture content of the material to be analyzed. The method also comprises counting the emitted radiation having a known energy over an interval of time to produce a count per time, wherein the emitted radiation is emitted from the radionuclide and then dividing the count per time by the weight of the material to produce a count per time per weight.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for determining a radionuclide concentration of a material comprising:
 placing a detector in a protective structure, wherein the detector is coupled to a single-channel analyzer; 
 inserting the protective structure in a material, wherein the material comprises a radionuclide; 
 measuring the moisture content of the material to be analyzed; 
 counting the emitted radiation having a known energy over an interval of time to produce a count per time, wherein the emitted radiation is emitted from the radionuclide; and 
 dividing the count per time by the weight of the material to produce a count per time per weight. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising approximating the weight of the material to be analyzed. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying the count per time per weight in the form of graphs, charts, images, logs, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein displaying the acquired measurements occurs on an information handling system, wherein the information handling system is a mobile phone. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises drill cuttings, drilling mud, brines, development fluids, pipe scale, sludges, mine tailings, mill tailings, air filter socks, water filter socks, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material is a by-product of oil and gas production, mineral processing, phosphate rock processing, pharmaceutical development, geothermal energy production, hydrothermal energy production, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising multiplying the count per time per weight by a conversion factor to produce an activity concentration. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising correcting the activity concentration by applying a moisture correction factor. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the emitted radiation comprises gamma radiation, wherein the radionuclide is Ra-226, or Pa-234. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising correcting the activity concentration by applying a density correction factor. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is repeated to obtain multiple counts per time per weight, wherein the multiple counts per time per weight are averaged to produce an average count per time per weight. 
     
     
       12. A system for characterizing the radionuclide content of a material comprising:
 a protective structure inserted into a material, wherein the material comprises a radionuclide; 
 a detector inserted into the protective structure, wherein the detector is coupled to a single-channel analyzer; and 
 an information handling system, wherein the information handling system processes measurements acquired by the single-channel analyzer. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the information handling system is a mobile phone, wherein the mobile phone is wirelessly connected to the single-channel analyzer. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the mobile phone comprises a software application. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the information handling system is a tablet device, wherein the tablet device is connected by wire to the single-channel analyzer. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the tablet device comprises a software application. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the material comprises drill cuttings, drilling mud, brines, development fluids, pipe scale, sludges, mine tailings, mill tailings, air filter socks, water filter socks, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the material is a by-product of oil and gas production, mineral processing, phosphate rock processing, pharmaceutical development, geothermal energy production, hydrothermal energy production, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the radionuclide is Ra-226, or Pa-234. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the information handling system is configured to:
 measure the moisture content of the material; 
 approximate the weight of the material; 
 count the emitted radiation having a known energy over an interval of time to produce a count per time; 
 divide the count per time by the weight of the material to produce a count per time per weight; 
 multiply the count per time per weight by a conversion factor to produce an activity concentration; 
 correct the activity concentration by applying a moisture correction factor and a density correction factor; and 
 obtain multiple counts per time per weight, wherein the multiple counts per time per weight are averaged to produce an average count per time per weight.